The XV of France took its time.
70 minutes exactly to finally register this fourth try synonymous with an offensive bonus against Italy.
Contract completed, with even a fifth ball flattened in stoppage time - for a hat-trick from the cantankerous and talented winger of RC Toulon, Gabin Villière - for, in the end, a clear victory, 37-10, against an opponent who conceded at the Stade de France his 33rd defeat in a row in the Six Nations Tournament.
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The essential is therefore acquired.
Without shaking.
But without boasting either.
Because the Blues, if they have sometimes been inspired, have messed up their rugby for too long, between clumsiness and indiscipline.
It thus took them almost half time to find the right carburation.
During the first thirty minutes, between the ball made slippery by the rain and the defensive aggressiveness of the Italians, the copy was laborious.
Crossed out by a few poorly executed choices, in particular by an Antoine Dupont who visibly lacked rhythm with only one match played since December 11, between knee injury and Covid to be treated.
Read also“We put forward gear together”, rejoices Villière
Fortunately, in an attempt to free themselves from the transalpine embrace, the tricolor forwards took control. Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Grégory Alldritt multiplied the percussions, gained tens of precious meters, recovered some penalties allowing Melvyn Jaminet to keep the XV of France afloat. A XV of France who had been surprised in the 18th minute by an impeccable pass at the foot of the opener of Montpellier, Paolo Garbisi, bound for his winger Menoncello for an Italian try (3-7, 18th).
It took a trickster from Anthony Jelonch, intercepting a pass from the Italian scrum-half behind a touch, to slip into the opposing in-goal and allow the French to get back in front of the score without delay (8-7, 27th ).
And, in stoppage time before the break, Antoine Dupont chose the penaltouch rather than the three easy points.
Audacity pays off.
Cameron Woki won the throw before, with two volley passes, Ntamack and Penaud took the ball away to the opposite wing.
A last offering from Melvyn Jaminet and Gabin Villière was going to flatten out to offer some air to the Blues (18-10, 40th + 1).
At half-time, the telephone instructions from Fabien Galthié, coach confined to his hotel room in Chantilly, had obviously carried.
The tricolor pack continued its work of wear and, if the tough Italians clung on with the pride of despair, we felt that the break was near.
Gabin Villière chained feigned play at the foot and dazzling framing-overflow to put two defenders in the wind (23-10, 49th).
Twenty minutes later, it was the other winger, Damian Penaud, who collected the offensive bonus at the end of an impeccable one-two pass with Antoine Dupont (30-10, 69th).
Goal achieved.
But the Blues, aware of having to store up confidence after a long lackluster performance, were not satisfied with it.
And, at the conclusion of a long downbeat,
Gabin Villière scored a hat-trick against Italy.
SARAH MEYSSONNIER / REUTERS
The XV of France has a few times in the past had so much trouble getting rid of Italy, even tripping over the mat twice, that it would be exaggerated to be choosy.
“The result is there, we have to be satisfied with it,” summarized captain Antoine Dupont, satisfied to have managed “to be cleaner and more serious” after the break.
It is just as obvious that the Blues will have to do better and more precise next Saturday (5:45 p.m.) in the same place, against the Irish who impressed against Wales.
Also reaping the offensive bonus, carried by the ardor of their forwards and the sharpness of their three-quarters.
The Blues will not have too many six days to view their dross, erase their approximations in order to deliver a much more successful performance against the XV of Clover.
